Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 12:12 PM

Home from a travelling weekend and puttering in the kitchen. I'm meeting my mom later today and we are going for a walk while Jeremiah has fun on his scooter.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 12:37 PM

Mill:
Linn! Your animals would annoy me to the point of OUT! Out of proportion? I cannot abide cats on the counter, never mind the stove. Having to push them away from my food? No way! However, Sabine's behaviour is disturbing for what it may mean about her physical health. It might help if you took her upstairs to bed with you? As one of my (large) dogs was physically deteriorating, I slept downstairs on the couch so I could keep him company and pet him when he whimpered in the night.

The weekend craft event was not a big success financially - even the people selling corn in the cob left early! Saturday was dreadful as it rained almost constantly. A few people came in between times and with umbrellas. I sold a few pots. Sunday was exquisitely beautiful but the crowd did not appear. Vendors did not do well generally, though it was way better than Sat! Viewed as a social event, it was delightful.

Unfortunately, as I finished a food break, sitting on a low stool in the sun, I fell over. Boom, just fell. ???? Scared me more than it hurt but I did pull something in thoracic region (heard it "crack or pop or something). The rest of the afternoon, I sat in a rather blue/black funk - in a chair carefully placed - trying to figure out what happened. Why?

I have become aware of not having a clear sense of my body in space. I bump things. A long talk with Connie last night - she had NO ideas. Equilibrium was the word that came to mind.

Vanessa was at the event and stayed to help me pack up and load the car. My small community kicked in as I tried to ascertain how much damage I was felling, whether or not R needed to come down from the city; how to deal with the situation of a car load of pots and shelves that I may not be able to pack up. The committee finally decided that Vanessa could pack and I felt able to drive. Sarah found V and Catherine insisted I let her know how I was doing down at the mill by myself. So it came to pass.

Then I had trouble finding a way out of the morass of cars trying to pack up and leave. The vendor who had been next to me suggested I let her do it. So, for the first time in my life... She somehow managed it. I was still too shaken by the fall - the emotional impact of it was worse than the physical. I will continue to make pots with the rather large amount of clay I still have and figure out ways to pedal them. No more shows - unless I have a helper.

I stopped on the way back to the mill to pick up homeopathic for my environmental from Vanessa's dad, had a nice chat with her mom while dad was out for a run. He also gave me something for the pain which seems to be helping. Then came to the mill and had a good supper and sleep.

V's dad did tell me he has heard the planes spraying chemicals during the summer so maybe I was not being silly when I felt I better get out of Dodge.

So, this, beautiful, morning, I checked glaze materials vs glaze recipes and placed an order which Vanessa will pick up. Told Cathy I was OK. Chatted with one of the Dragonfly persons. Started cleaning out a mess in the bottom of the frig which has been there for ages. I have not been here enough to deal with it.

I am feeling a little rocky, and my gut is unhappy, but I hope to be able to trim the few pots made yesterday before I fell. Then measure and mix as many glazes as I feel able - would like to do four....   Then drive to the city.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 12:52 PM

Dorothy, maybe there is more going on with your ears than just how you hear in different settings, maybe your balance is affected. A checkup with an ENT might be productive just in case this is the early stage of something.

My breakfast this morning included homemade bread/toast with some of the new batch of grape jelly - delicious - and it's so beautiful in the jar, a deep garnet colored jelly. I always get a thrill the next morning after canning when I walk into the kitchen and see the morning sun shining in on all of the jars on the counter.

Writing projects are occurring to me these days, for both blog and freelance. I need to do this for my sanity since there is nothing creative going on at work, so I need to clear off a few surfaces in my home office and set up files for notes - even though so much is done on the computer and is stored digitally, I need paper copies to proof read and make margin notes. And keep ideas, sheets torn from magazines or articles printed off the Internet.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 02:51 PM

Projects are proceeding but slowly.

The black lambswool crochet bolero is maybe half done. The black kilt was finished enough to pin on and wear on Saturday to go to the Swanage folk festival.

I realised that it is going to be ideal for things I need to drive to as the fabric is crease resistant. It means that the pleats are not quite as sharp as they could be, but being sat on is not a problem.

I use writing as a sort of therapy - I just write, rewrite and elaborate on fictional situations until whatever is bothering me is worked out through the repetition and resolutions I find. Then I dump the lot, leaving my thoughts more sorted out and my emotions calmed.

The black kilt is now unpinned and waiting for the last lot of sewing of the waistband and then fixing on the buckles and straps which it needs. It is beautifully heavy and swings at every step - there is over 8 yards of fabric, the longest length I've used so far. The band is strengthened with military style webbing to hold it as it oscillates.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 03:58 PM

Snow in the mountains and snow expected here tomorrow.

Did you get your gutters cleaned? Has your furnace had its yearly inspection?

LED flashlights have taken over. I put all the old stuff in recycle, don't burden anyone with the old stuff; old batteries can leak and are dangerous.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 08:06 PM

Full day. With snowy egrets. Even in South Mill Pond (where I've never seen them before) in the heart of the South End of Portsmouth on the way to the library for the meeting. The meeting was demanding...but in a good way.

Critiquing the other two selections was intense, both in laughter and in seriously (and not so seriously) discussing writing styles, word crafting and methodology. One person brought up the fact she'd like to share a piece with the group, but since it's intensely personal, she really doesn't want it to be critiqued, just accepted and another person told of a group where that's the general drill. So we're going to try it, at least for selected pieces like this one.

My draft of a draft of "You Can't Get To Heaven If You're Hit By a Tourist" (it's not even a draft, just me getting things on paper; submitted because one member really wanted to read it) was critiqued by the members of the group who missed the last meeting.

After the meeting I was going to go to the new Portsmouth Goodwill (where I hadn't yet been) and then go to a friend's, but she turned out to be teaching today, so didn't go there. When I got to Goodwill first I couldn't find my discount card (still have another place to look) but they looked me up, then I had a MAJOR disappointment. Found "King of Hearts" with Alan Bates in the DVD section for $2.95...checked inside (I've gotten burned before) and there was no DVD. Sigh. But that means it's out there and maybe I'll find it again at a yardsale, Goodwill, whatever. Then, on my way out, I discovered I'd locked my keys in the car. Not a problem. I have dupes in my billfold and also in one of those magnetic dealies hidden on the body of the car.

So instead of going to my friend's, I headed for the beach and the scenic route (or one of them) home. More snowys across from Odiorne and in the first salt marsh down at the beach in Rye. Even a Great Egret, which are not overly common around here, was in the marsh (and not in its usual marsh, either). Diverted up Washington Road to Rte. 1 and got a chocolate banana malt for lunch at Lagos Lone Oak, one of the few places in New England I can get a malt. Went back down to 1A, the beach road, and came inland and home via North Hampton.

Got home just before 3:00 and was too sleepy to read, so I took a nap. Right after I woke up and turned the phone back on, got a call from Nick Noble about the PMFF promo we're doing on his "Folk Revival" show in a couple weeks and then got a lovely call from my friend Jenny in Seattle. She used to be an antiquarian bookseller specializing in books of Asia so our phone calls also include great conversations about books and writing and editing.

Realized after the phone calls (7:30 pm) that I'm still not really hungry after the malt, so was satisfied with a very light snack instead of thickening yesterday's chicken stew as I'd planned. I also didn't have time to bake zucchini bread. Tomorrow...after my dentist appointment.

Very rich day. But no time to fill you in further of my adventures of the past couple weeks. Time to give Sabine some serious one-on-one and retire with a glass of wine and a book (and Rufus in the lap).

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Sep 14 - 10:04 PM

I think I have an old VCR tape with King of Hearts on it. I just looked at NetFlix, it's in the "save" category, they know it exists but don't have it. I'll look around. I may have a DVD.

I'm nodding off at my computer this evening. Waiting on a call, but I may text and put it off till tomorrow. Tuesday is my late night so I could sleep in later tomorrow, but I want to be up early and get down to my GP office for the shingles inoculation now that I'm eligible. My mother got shingles and was lucky that it was diagnosed early - if caught early it is treatable. The shot doesn't spare everyone the condition, and not everyone who had chicken pox gets shingles, but I'll get the shot to give myself better odds.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 11:06 AM

An early pass through the garden yielded several eggplant, average ~ 10 ounce, a handful of Roma tomatoes, and one lovely okra. There are more blooms on the flowers now, I'm hoping to start getting enough to use for meals soon. I gave a few to my next-door neighbor who likes them boiled ("bowled" is the Southern pronunciation) but her husband only likes them fried. She'll simmer those to go with her lunch.

Ants in the house still, stalking anything trash-related that I miss. I think they were attracted by either the wrapping some fish came in last night (frozen) or a paper towel that had some bacon grease. These aren't sugar ants, they're the other kind. Annoying, but here one minute and gone the next. More diatomaceous earth puffed into the general area.

The call is in requesting the shingles shot. Apparently the doctor needs to approve it, but then I can walk in, I won't have to make an appointment.

Linn, I envy you your scenic drives. I have different routes to and from work that I follow on whim and in order to keep my brain engaged in noticing the differences along the route. Autopilot for 30 minutes each way isn't stimulating or necessarily healthy.

Alternate fasting day today - one small meal that I'll take to eat at work. I've been climbing the stairs more often in the building to build the fitness level. Every little bit helps. This is a good time of year for this, when I feel more energetic as the weather gradually cools.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 04:42 PM

New Hampshire is gorgeous, Maggie. When I was working at Fox Run Mall in Portsmouth (Newington, if you want to get technical), I was "forced" to drive past/over Little Bay and Great Bay, take the Spaulding Turnpike bridge along the Piscataqua River and over the mouth of the Bays.

Today, going to my dentist appointment, in taking the shortcut between Rte. 4 and Rte. 9, I drove past Mendums Pond and Swains Lake. Got to check out how many turtles were on what I call Turtle Rock.

Had to take a "faster" road home so I could get a few groceries, but then took back roads to Nottingham's center so I could vote in today's primary. Not much reason for us Democrats to go to the polls today, but I feel voting is important no matter what.

Then turn down my road which is 1.2 miles of dirt road through fairly thick woods before you reach my house just before the top of the hill. (Broken only by the Priest Road Cliffs, which used to draw a lot of rock climbers.)

Just started the dishes in the dishwasher and put the zucchini bread in the oven. This morning I had a nice long talk with a friend who lost her husband a couple months before I lost Tom. And I got directions to the studio in Worcester, MA to all those who have confirmed with me for the PMFF promo that Nick Noble will do on his "The Folk Revival" show on WICN on September 18th.

Right now the novocaine is wearing off and I'm not only getting a headache but my jaw hurts. Think I'll take some aspirin and return my sister's call.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 05:00 PM

The photo on my smart phone "home" screen is one I took with said phone, from the passenger seat in Linn's car, going across the bridge she referred to, while we were headed to lunch at Bugaboo Creek (the first time).

I can't get things in focus when I'm careful. Aiming a phone out the wind of a moving vehicle, and it's perfect. I suppose it's a lesson in trusting to the inevitability of happy accidents.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 06:52 PM

Some of these devices exist just to make fools of us, Jeri. Phone cameras are iffy creatures for capturing images.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 09 Sep 14 - 07:44 PM

City:
Sorting out life is a muddle right now. Sometime this weekend: Look at a property in Ontario that we missed last time thanks to lazy real estate work; I emailed and got better directions from a good realtor/friend. Figure out what to do about registering the VW van. I am thinking of "moving" to Ontario - shifting my address, car registration, etc. All I need is an address. ---Just phoned a friend there to ask about using her address and parking VW in her yard for a bit. She and husband can think about it and I will phone back tomorrow. I would like it in a safe place. Definitely not Montreal.

Changing provinces, like changing states, is not a small thing.

There was a heron in the middle of the road on Sunday, on my way from the Woolgathering! It deigned to move out of my way to a farm yard. Stood there looking at me as I looked at it. We had a gazing fest. Such an awkward looking thing when not flying.

I do want to be in Ontario for the volunteer meeting on Monday. All else can, I hope, revolve around that. VW thing needs to be done on week days. Need to avoid driving back and forth - 2 hours each way. (OK, I am thinking "out loud.)

So, I did get the pots trimmed yesterday but a long afternoon nap preceded that so by the time I, with great energy, started to get into the glaze making routine, I realized it was time to leave! So I came back to the city. Watched Big bang, gave up waiting for R and had left- over pork roast and veggies for supper, watched part of the news and went to bed. R came in after midnight, having supped at McD.

He looked for the trash this morning and I pointed out that it was still in the LR because I am waiting for the floor (plywood!) to be nailed down. HINT!! He was working on the electric at a building so a film company could film today. Did not have time to replace a light bulb in our K. He had to rush back up there. This "shoemaker's children" thing has gotten VERY old.

I think I accomplished something besides bf and internet today - a couple emails to folks and research "moving to Ontario" - but not much. I did carry the wheel upstairs and a small box of greenware out to the car. A long aft nap again, then I went to tackle the clay but one pot and three balls that refused to behave and I decided to give it up 'til tomorrow. There is still some discomfort in chest and I do not want to aggravate it. The two homeopathics are helping the pain and the environmental. I felt great this morning but the afternoon sleepies were major.

SRS: It does seem as though balance is off but only minimally. I am not going to subject myself to the so-called health care system until I have a better handle on the situation myself. I need to pay more attention to mini-incidents and when and where they occur. It could be food or toxin related. Or any number of things. I need to study on it more.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 06:46 AM

Good Morning!

Just checking in to say I'm blowing my diet this week all over the place..ARG....travelling was not well planned on my part....but today is a new day. :) I will be catching up on the dishes, doing some laundry, sewing and starting to purge some items around here that just need to go. Facebook Yard Sale sites are my friend.

Eyes all swollen this morning, the right one in particular is all gummy and red. Golden rod, while beautiful, is not my friend.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 11:19 AM

MIL arrived on time ydy in Rochester (nearest good airport, 2 hours each way). Hardi and I enjoyed an E. Nesbit audiobook on the way up and picked up a $1 lamp for a last dark corner in the rearranged LR. Short, glass, with shade, perfect.

MIL came in to see the house on the way to her hotel (she's pet-allergic and has set herself a 3-hour limit here to avoid excessive anti-histamine use). Most years we've made her bypass the house til the day after her flight, because I've still been racing thru it hiding dirt up to the moment she walks in. It's good to be thyroid-powered now!

She lived in much dirtier houses as a young mom-- next door to an active railroad and coal yard. She doesn't judge, but she does have real breathing issues now. This is likely her last visit here-- we'll go see her next year-- and we are especially eager to have her with us at the house as much as she can stand; she now needs a salt-free diet, so we stocked up on the steaks she loves as an alternative to restaurants.

We also have a lot of local field trips planned, for her to accumulate as many good memories of this special community as possible, and even the leaves are cooperating by starting the show a few days early. Her PT has fitted her for a bit more walking, and we may be able to borrow a walker-with-seat since my scooter is still in Ohio.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 01:14 PM

Made my list for the day early, as usual. It took me until 10 am to realize I'm having a "grief day". Probably because I don't HAVE to go anywhere today (nothing on the calendar) and there is nothing that HAS to be done today.

Good. Because I just CAN'T. Over the past couple days I was starting to feel a bit over-extended. An introspective day should reassure me everything is pretty much under control or as much as can be realistically expected.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 05:43 PM

City:
Thinking is hard work! I have spent most of today trying to figure out logistics of getting the van to where we want it - paid for and repaired. Thanks to the vendor! He is willing to take it to Bancroft to my fav mechanic - PETE! After I transfer money to his account. Then "all" I have to sort out is an address for registering and insuring it and my car and changing driver's license, health card, etc! All those little details... When I tried to confer with R, he was in the middle of.... So far, nothing is engraved in stone but I feel there are reasonable options. Between phone calls, I was on line, emailing, messaging, sharing... NO afternoon sleepies!!

Still hoping to go upstairs to make a few pots with fresh clay, giving myself the best chance of success. Watching the news at the moment.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Sep 14 - 11:44 PM

Lots of little things out of the way. Fridge checked for containers needing emptying, and those are in the dishwasher that was emptied, reloaded, and now running. This morning I was able to spray a mix of compost tea, a little orange oil, and some Hastagro fertilizer in a gallon of water in a pump sprayer over the vegetable garden. Pushing back the encroaching ants and aphids. My next door neighbor has an eggplant that has been chewed to pieces - I think it needs more sun and is in stress, so the bugs attack all the more. It's only a few feet from my plants on the other side of a fence. It may be the source of some of the pests migrating to my garden.

Waiting on my eBay auction winner to pay. I think most of these small parcels will sell, and I still have several more small lots to list. All of this antique doll house furniture was in a large shoebox, so it won't clear up much space in the house, but my PayPal account will appreciate the traffic. Usually if you have a bunch of similar things to sell, once one or two have sold people start looking for your listings. I no longer offer to combine shipping, eBay makes way too big of a deal about it, but I will if items are purchased at the same time by one buyer.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 03:40 PM

Alice is seeing snow flurries in her Montana home on the range but it is still in the high 80s down here in Texas. A cool front supposedly came through (that's why it isn't 100 right now). I turned off the watering timer for overnight, fingers crossed we get rain in the next 24 hours. Michelle has been delivering firewood for weeks as people in PA get ready for winter. I'd love to have a wood-burning stove or a pellet stove to use in the cooler months.

It's nice to see the seasons begin to change.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 09:44 PM

I spent the entire day working on a mass production of some Halloween pretties to market hopefully within the next two weeks. Measuring and cutting fabric all day...I think between that and allergies, I am just about blind tonight. Arg.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 12:49 PM

The current trip and trailer-load to Ohio was planned the minute I knew the housemate had to go. It's been as intense as a military campaign and thanks to all the participants it is on schedule for all benchmarks to be manifest as planned.

This AM Hardi and I loaded the trailer. A few hoped-for items were deferred to a later trip but thanks to Hardi's handling of the heavy loading and his expertise in good weight distribution, all that remains to be done is adding the cargo net and heavy top-tarp once he adds a dozen screw eyes for the tarp straps. We're leaving the trailer attached to the van. Boxes to take inside the van are in there out of the weather-- I just need to add autoharp, some bluestone, and slide one big box around to its proper spot before departure. Add one small dog and driver day of departure-- Monday midday to miss all rush hr traffic en route, after cash stop at bank.

Till Monday I get to complete the current clng phase-- kitchen-- to be able to return in 3 wks to ordered cleanliness I can keep clean and orderly. Meat sale goodies are all stowed for Hardi's use and my return. To that end, ydy I did a long-deferred cleaning of the fridge. Today the clear drawers are being run thru the new dishwasher and I have condimentia to wipe, sort, stow. Sumpins gotta give there-- sm fridge w too many ethnicities' worth of jars. Some will have to move to second fridge in laundry room!!! Hardi will determine which.

I'm tired enough these days to sleep a lot better!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 12:57 PM

City:
SRS! Does it get cold enough for a wood stove? They are so cheery. But messy. MY bro has a beautiful wood stove in his huge K and his wife refused to allow its use - until the last few years. The price of oil... He has a fan system that pulls the heat to the other end of the house. A pellet stove is, of course, less messy and easier to manage. Bet you could get one on craigslist or...

I managed to throw a few pots Weds. Later in the eve, a few emails came in about Dragonfly. I was too tired to even think about them but hope to - later today. It is on my mind as I do other things so I am hoping ideas are perking away.

Yesterday, I went to buy another pottery wheel - my fav sort. After a long talk with the vendor, we agreed he would deliver it when his auction friend in Huntingdon has his open house. No rush; I still have not yet set up the last one; have no had enough time/energy when at the mill. This one is totally unnecessary but for $250... A friend just had one stolen; she may want this one or... .

Then I drove down to the mill - 90 minutes, stopping for a loaf of cheese bread for R at a bakery - too far for special trip but it was en route. After a lunch, I went into studio and perused the situation. Decided to mix glazes first as the area was ready. Measured 3 ingredients and looked at the 4th - something seemed wrong about the amount so I spent the next hour going over and over and over the numbers for each ingredient, using the computer calculator. Definitely a bad brain day! Finally decided I had them correct; the 4th had been terribly wrong. Finished that one - an almost full 5 gallon bucket - sieved twice. Then did one with only 3 ingredients; easily measured! Then it was time to pack up and come back to city.

I had gone down specifically to be with Vanessa so she could learn to load the bisque kiln and prepare glazes. She never showed. I did not load the bisque kiln. She really needs to learn - a lot. She seems to want to and I had been feeling badly that I was never there when she was. Oh well.

An hour of Big Bang and I felt better, then elephants on Suzuki. A program on condos in Canada - the significant problems thereof - should put anyone off the idea of buying one.   R came home by 8!!!! NO sense of time! He was surprised that I was home "already" even though I had phoned at 6 to tell him I was on my way - it is only an hour trip. Nice to have supper before midnight.

This morning indicates the need for a new modus operandi. Instead of him lying in bed until, suddenly, he "needs to get to the office" - without bf, I will get up by 8 and make bf and he WILL get up and eat BEFORE the phone starts ringing. Otherwise I shall grab it from his hand and flush it down the toilet!   OK, so I won't flush the blackberry down the toilet but - you get the idea!

Poor man spends the day putting out fires and there I am wanting to know when the roof will be repaired. He seems to have plan - but before snow???

The doorbell rang a while ago - while I was on here. The next door neighbour, a lovely woman, is selling her house and kindly asked to go into the alley between our houses. This is our alley but our gate does not open from the outside. Some work needs to be done on her house and the inspector is coming and - she very sweetly asked if we could move the stuff leaning against her house - doors, broken windows... I have now done that; it included picking up a pile of broken glass - a small cardboard box full now sits on our front stoop awaiting garbage day. That was good exercise.

One load of laundry is washed, dried and put away. The second is in the dryer. One very tired flannel sheet will be torn into "non-paper towels". I have a new set from a thrift shop. I'll let the bed air until later.

Now - maybe if I go work on pots it will help my brain sort out the rest of the van conundrum.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 12 Sep 14 - 09:01 PM

Spent today taking Mom to the doctor.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 10:49 AM

Hm!!! The workshop around which I built my whole Sept. trip's schedule was resked to the following week, so I get to delay departure by one day and spend it with MIL. We're really enjoying this visit, plus she has fab reno ideas/experience, so that makes Monday the day we can look at Ohio house pix and floor plans, YAY!

Makes a day I can run the sweeper around once more to make it better for me when I return, YAY! And maybe lay a carpet in the laundry room where the floor is COLD, YAY!

WINWINWIN and flexibly!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 11:56 AM

Michelle, I hope your mother is okay. There is a bug going around the office that a couple of people have suffered through and now one of them has a child (aged 11) who has been the the hospital because of it.

Dorothy, we get quite a robust winter here in North Texas. It's not like North Dakota, but from December through March it can be cold and windy, weather that would make a wood burning stove welcome. My friend Susie has an insert in her fireplace. I think my chimney needs work, I'm afraid an insert would rust out too soon. For now I have my fireplace completely sealed (I lined the insides and top with that pink board of insulation you get in 4x8 sheets at Home Depot) and the front has a piece wedged into the entire opening so it is a stone wall with a pink panel in front. My television sits in front and blocks the view of it, and last year at xmas as we opened gifts I streamed a NetFlix movie of a burning fireplace. :)

This morning is lovely and cool, our first day that really feels like fall. It's too early to last, but for a couple of days it is brisk. I had a window open last night and no ceiling fan and added a light blanket to the bed.

Cool weather makes me feel like cooking. I picked up a pot roast yesterday so I'll fix that and have it for leftovers for lunch during the week. I have to dice some more veggies from the garden to put in the freezer. I picked up sugar so I may make one more batch of jelly (2 so far). It's a great gift. I'll be making banana bread tomorrow evening to cool overnight and ship in the morning as part of a care package to my son who is now a week into a new job. There are several folks he knows from the university who relocated to Seattle for work, they have a facebook page for the group so I suspect those homesick puppies will be doing things together on their weekends as they adjust to the new climate and new life situations.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 12:08 PM

One load of wood delivered, off to do another.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 01:57 PM

Load 2 DONE! One more to go!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 02:22 PM

Just got home a little while ago from doing a yardsale loop and taking some photos in a little interesting cemetery on Packer's Falls Road in Newmarket.

Did get something practical at a yardsale, a couple brand new 8" trim rings for electric burners on the stove. Fifty cents each (buck total) to rejuvenate the stove top. But then spent two bucks on a blue stuffed dragon... I need dragons like cats need wings. (Cute, though.)

Also got some peaches at the stand down the road...and I'm about to gobble one of those for dessert.

I'd photographed the cemetery back in 2002, but with film. And, if I recall correctly, the processor screwed up the prints, so now I have some okay shots. It's an interesting family (Joy / Griffiths / Munroe) cemetery surrounded by a really wonderful stone wall (not surprising considering all the stonework in Newmarket) with a largish white obelisk in front on a mound and a bunch of various grave markers behind it. The REALLY interesting marker has a large hand pointing to the left (at a fairly ostentatious monument) and reads,

"A SUITABLE MONUMENT
   AND FIT UP THE LOT"
                      S.E.O.
         ________
[then lists a couple female Munroes one of whom may have also been a Joy]
         ________
I BOUGHT THIS LOT 1740

And on my way home, I stopped on Madbury Road in Durham just before it crosses Rte. 4 and took a few photos of Tom Hall Road. Ayuh. Just not MY Tom Hall! Originally took photos of this street sign back twenty or more years ago. They're back in my photo files (prints, negatives) somewhere, but now I've got a digital photo I can post at Facebook. I think this sign is actually a replacement of the one I photographed around 1990, and I don't think the old one had a "Yield" sign on the side of it.

When I got home and before I went into the house, I did some raking in the driveway. I've got to get all of the last season's leaves (that I had raked to the side of the driveway last Spring) cleaned up and dumped so Drew can do some more grading after last week's torrential downpour cut the Grand Canyon at the head of the driveway and another good sized gully down the turnaround. I've been neglecting this raking for most of the summer since it was either too wet or too hot to work on it. But I really need to get this done before this year's leaves start falling hot and heavy.

Should dry some sheets... Should get dishes out of dishwasher... Should clean up the kitchen... Should take out the kitchen compost (again)... I did get the chicken stew into the freezer, though. And gave Sabine some serious petting and attention.

Onward...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 03:21 PM

Two rugs laid in laundry room. Office email project partially decluttered.

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 05:06 PM

Third load delivered and unloaded. Lunch made. Paper clutter piles on the edge of the hoosier have been sorted with a good deal of it in the trash.

Feet up.

Ahhhhhhh.

Michelle who wore steel toed shoes for the first time today

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 05:58 PM

CITY:!
What a messed up day. Having arranged to meet V at the mill for some pottery work, I wanted to leave about 11 as she needed to get to work elsewhere by 4. So R brought me a cheque to put in the bank for the van. Stopping at a bank en route, after getting over the darn bridge took a while due to more construction, I was informed it would not clear until Friday; I wanted to make a transfer on Monday. "If you go to your branch..." She said it would be different. Back across the bridge! called V to tell her I would not make it. Stopped for a pee break and bought some groceries at Loblaws. Got to the bank and a more useful but equally distressing message. There really is no such thing as "my branch". And it made no difference except that instead of the 19th, it would actually be 22nd (5 business days). She would phone the other branch and inform them that I had been misinformed - which screwed up my day totally; I would not have come back but would have gone along to the mill and made other arrangements, as I shall have to do now. I phoned R to figure out a new plan. I guess we should have known it would take that long.

Trying to make the best of the day, I stopped and bought a couple dozen packages of "Indian" - meals that keep on the shelf and are great in a hurry over rice with yogurt. From there, I decided I was close to a library and found a parking spot but looked for library card before getting out of car. While doing this a BMW backed into me twice. I got out and chatted with him as he was parking in a drive. "My driveway" he noted and apologized- and cheerfully told me he could not help me find my library card. I gave up the search and got back on the way home. Stopped at IGA for more yogurt and some other groceries; cashier informed me that the air miles card had enough points to give me $10 off groceries - next time!!!! I had about given up on it as useless!

By the time I got home (4), I felt I had been run over by a large machine, repeatedly. Discomfort in chest has returned to painful due to yesterday's moving of stuffs. BUT, the closest parking space was available and I got everything into the house and put away, made myself a nice pot of green tea and some lunch and am basically in collapse mode. At 2 pm, I was still thinking of getting home and throwing some pots but now ... I may recuperate in an hour or so. OR not.

The most exciting bit of today was a wonderful hero! One of my pet peeves are "BUTINSKIS", those drivers who fly past in the left lane, knowing they are going to butt-in further along. They would never do this in the grocery store; why do they believe they have this right on the highway. Years ago in Toronto, I was rushing to get back to a really important workshop and ---YES! I am making it! My exit was "Right there"! The Buttinskis flew by and butt in. The next quarter mile took an hour instead of 5 minutes.

So on the approach to the bridge, this was happening and I was considering - either be a Buttinski myself or move into the left lane and keep them from flying past. In the rear view mirror, I saw a little blue car pull into the left lane and sit there, moving slowly in sync with the right lane. A long line of would-be Buttinskis built up behind it and, at the appropriate place, the little blue car and all those behind pulled into the right lane because they had to!!!! MY HERO!! I would have loved to meet that driver. Maybe next time I will have the guts to emulate them!!

So that is my bright and shining light in this otherwise messed up day! And the $10! Now, where is the little blue purse with my 3 library cards??????????????

Before I left this morning, I did trim and put handles on the 9 pots thrown a couple days ago. Maybe Weds, V and I can load the kiln and mix another glaze or two. I did give her a sort of practice suggestion to help her start throwing pots that might not be "the murder weapon"! (lighter in weight)

SRS: my son had the TV in front of the fireplace for years but last winter enticed him to use it. It might be a cost saving to get a liner put in the old chimney and a small insert. The Whidbey son found it cost effective to put in a Vermont Castings gas fireplace. It is amazingly cheery without the mess. They have two incomes but never do anything without careful research.

R and I talked about "roof" this morning. There is a possibility that he may take the reasonable route of hiring an actual roofer for the job! He went up for a look this morning and "the hole is bigger". I think he is finally impressed with the need to get it done before the snow come through it. She says, hopefully.

Ok. 6 pm news and, then, maybe I shall feel like throwing a few pots. Nothing at all on TV so it is that or SIT all evening. And look for library cards.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Sep 14 - 06:07 PM

Laundry day. We had a bit of rain and still fairly high humidity so things will take a lot longer out on the line.

Linn, I have a bunch of photos from over the years in cemeteries, including family plots. I've also visited interesting local ones in various states where I lived.

Michelle, steel toed boots are great for garden work also, especially if you use chopping tools like a mattock.

Pot roast braising on the stove, laundry on the line. There is a fresh breeze this afternoon, not too humid after all. I have a batch of juice from last summer thawing to add to this year's juice for one last batch of jelly. Once I have a few of these things ready to go to keep me in the kitchen for a while I'll stream a more episodes of Bones.

Dorothy, our house isn't plumbed for gas, but there is a line through the neighborhood, so if I got it ever (to cook on) I would also consider a gas burning fireplace.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 12:55 PM

Stilly,

   Mom is going to be ok. :)

Today I helped to unload another load of wood and will be leaving shortly to help unload one more for today. I booked a few more orders and caught up on all business paperwork. :) It is a GORGEOUS day for delivering wood...bright blue skies....65ish...perfect!

I have been revamping our budget and tightening the belt even further and have been working on some menus of healthy meals that are relatively inexpensive to make. I'm open to suggestions if anyone would like to share. I tend to make simple home cooked meals that don't require much fuss or exotic ingredients. We also eat in 2 shifts at dinner time so I like to make things that are easily reheated. :)

I am feeling accomplished today. I see a walk and some yoga in my future. And dishes. And laundry. Those two things are a constant which means we are blessed to have food for our family and clothes to wear. :) I will not complain! :)

Love to all,

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 01:29 PM

Michelle, rice and beans is good for tight budget times (it's a favorite so I eat it regularly anyway). I keep empty salsa jars with good lids and after making a batch of beans I freeze most of the batch in these jars. I have a rice cooker that I make a couple of cups of rice and during the week I'll put a frozen jar of beans in my padded lunch bag along with a container of rice. I warm the beans in the jar in a microwave and warm the rice in a bowl then pour the beans over. On a larger scale to accommodate the number of people you're feeding, it's a good source of healthy carbs, protein, fibre, etc.

My kidney beans have onion, peppers, tomatoes, lots of seasoning, cilantro, ham hock and usually I cook, crumble and add some venison sausage or Italian sausage. At the end of cooking sometimes I add a couple of tablespoons of capers.

I also cook and freeze black beans to use in other dishes. They are great to extend taco meat, for example.

This afternoon I have cleared out my tea cart. It is like this (if the link expires it is the kitchen cart from Sam's Club) except I put the bin/shelf on top. I put the middle and bottom shelves in upside down to give my pots down there a little lip to keep them from falling off when I move it. The top bin is full of jars and boxes of all sorts of tea and today I got rid of a large box of Lipton that has languished, unused. I'll take it to work to the less picky tea palettes. That made room for a jar of Market Spice Tea (from Seattle, a famous cinnamon and orange tea). This was a large bag of decaff now transferred to a sealed jar. It didn't get used because I preferred the caffeine version, but I can't drink that after about 3 in the afternoon. Now I want this for an evening tea.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 02:12 PM

LF, the Sophie/Spenser thread is full of info on tight-belted handling of quickly-reheated meats.

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=96933

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 03:39 PM

And that grilled cheese thread has some good comfort food ideas. Many of them are also inexpensive.

This afternoon I'm working on various food types to use for lunch this week. Beans and rice, some pan-fried potatoes, the pot roast from yesterday. I save a lot by not buying lunch.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 05:10 PM

I noticed a couple of times that there was water in front of the washing machine and just assumed there was a slight leak.

Nope - precursor to a major blockage of the waste water drain.

So I moved the dish washer and a cabinet, got stripped off and down on the floor with a drain cleaning spring thing - boy was it blocked, it took half an hour of prodding, turning on the tap, drain filling again, prodding again, until eventually it started to flow away.

When the water level is at the right level it glugs and gurgles so I hear that whenever the water is running away. Silence means that it is coming up and regurgitating into the conservatory.

Once the drain was unblocked I spent half an hour in the shower to get rid of the smell before getting everything back into place.

Today I have been mopping and wiping the pipes which had backed up and overflowed, plus doing washing of all sorts to give the drain a clear out.

With the house being over 100 years old I suppose I should be grateful that the blockage was nothing more serious, not a collapse or anything, just the long run all along the back of the houses which is level enough to let the water stand for too long.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 06:26 PM

My drains run a lot better now that my children, both with exceedingly long hair, live in other places. Even with filters to catch it, hair still slipped through. The first sign here is usually when the washer drain overflows.

A brick of mashed bananas is out to thaw so I can make banana bread for a care package I'll mail tomorrow morning. Various other things will go in the box, a jar of homemade jelly, the guitar stand he left behind, a few odds and ends to pack around hard things. I'll visit Big Lots and get some of their dish towel sets. You can never have too many dish (tea for you in the UK) towels.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 08:49 PM

Quite some time back I bought a vanload of cotton to save it from the dump - it was very cheap, 'singles' of unbleached natural cotton.

It makes the best tea towels as it is so absorbent. I combine several threads and twist them together then thread up my little loom. It is a toy really, but I can make wool scarves and cotton tea towels - maximum width is about 2 ft, which is plenty. If I could do twill weaving I could even make my own fabrics for kilts, but that would take rather longer to achieve.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 14 Sep 14 - 10:48 PM

Ontario
I never found the energy to pot yesterday. Just read and computered and read some more- til 1 am to finish the book and be assured the main character was OK. R came home about 10 and we had buttered chicken; the sauce was from a package and HOT so we had a lot of yogurt with it.

Stayed in bed relaxing/talking until 11! BF and more talking - sorting out some issues around the van. Then I packed up and came to Ontario. Tried to go see a property we thought was interesting; I walked and walked and walked. Had no intention of taking my car down that "road". I never got to the cabin and coming back I counted 1200 steps or about 2400 feet or almost half a mile. I told R he was welcome to walk in to see it but I have no interest in a property that far out of the way - would need a 4x4 and a atv. The woods were lovely and it was a nice walk!

Came along to my friends and we chatted all evening - about dragon fly and other things. I think we finally hit on a solution to one problem regarding DF. They need to follow through.

My chest discomfort was pretty bad yesterday and last night. Staying in bed this am helped as did the homeopathic pain pellet. Much better now.

Remember that 8 qts of humous of 3 weeks ago? Rice topped with stir fried veggies, topped with humous is delicious!

Bed is lovely.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 07:39 AM

Had a great day yesterday when a friend dragged me to the Apple Festival at the Alfred, Maine Shaker Vilage. Will tell you more about it later.

Discovered later last night that the fan in the Biolet wasn't on...and noticed neither little light is on on the two electrical outlets in the bathroom. Overhead light works. Must be a breaker, but it was too late last night to investigate.

This morning I find that the little fridge in the bedroom seems to be out, too. Nothing else upstairs that I can find. This is weird because the lamp that works on the same outlet DOES work...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 08:19 AM

Okay. Just got the breaker reset for the bathroom outlets -- it wasn't the breaker indicated on my chart. (Haven't a clue what that one is for. And I looked. Spent a lot of time running up and down the stairs.)

Small fridge in the bedroom still seems to be out, but that may be a different issue entirely. I'll have to move the wicker rocker, unplug it, then plug it back in. It's in the same outlet as a lamp that's working just fine. There's always a possibility it's actually ON but just a lot quieter than usual, but I don't think so. I'll figure that out later. It might too be an indication that the freezer needs to be defrosted.

Yesterday was just lovely, thanks to my friend Gail who called me yesterday morning shortly after 9:00 and forced me to either give in to my inner sloth or overcome my inner sloth... Whatever, she got me out of bed, away from my book, ignore whatever else I'd planned to do yesterday, get dressed, and on the road to her place in South Berwick, Maine so we could go to the Apple Festival at the Shaker Village in Alfred, Maine.

What a gorgeous day -- bright sun and blue sky, autumnal temperature (but the sun was warm) -- and a really enjoyable event and afternoon. I'd never been to the Shaker Village in Alfred even though I lived practically next door in Springvale in the the '70s. (I HAVE spent time at the Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH.) I forced Gail to buy a copy of "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" in one of the jumble sale tents, we lunched on corn chowder (bacon!) made by the museum staff (we got the last two bowls; good timing), and bought and split a blueberry crumble on our way out. Split it at Gail's house so as not to discombolulate the nice lady taking money (as a previous customer had). Single ladies gotta stick together to buy stuff in manageable amounts... (S'poze I could put some of it in the freezer.)

Also when we got back to Gail's, I got the T-shirt quilt out of the car and showed it to her -- it's about as big as her bedroom, so that was fun. She's going to make me an oversized pillowcase to keep it in when I put it on the couch. (She's a quilter with a real talent for putting fabrics and colors together.)

Going to take my tea upstairs now that the bathroom problem is solved and sip and read a bit before showering, washing my hair, and getting on with the stuff I put off yesterday.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 11:07 AM

Okay, breaker in bathroom off again. I think the issue is the tray of the Biolet needs emptying. Or maybe the humus is too dry. I just checked the appropriate page in the manual and will go fiddle with extracting the tray. I've got the number of the national sales rep if I run into a snag or a mystery.

I think the problem with the little fridge in the bedroom is the freezer needs to be defrosted. I've pulled the plug on the fridge and, at the same time, tested that socket in the outlet and it's okay. The fridge door is now open, a towel on the floor, and a basin and the airline tubing at the ready...

Ya know, I really did NOT need all this aggravation today, especially more than one hassle at a time.

Will also get the PMFF program completed and off to the printer.

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 02:11 PM

This morning I mailed a care package to my son, newly relocated for a job. I spoke to him last night, introduced the concept of calling home on the weekend - not texting or emailing, but calling. He seems amenable. His apartment is spartan, he said he has a bed, a desk and a chair. I packed the priority mail box with the banana bread bagged in inside a new bread pan and some new dish towels, and the rest is odds and ends as they would fit in to completely fill the box. I don't want to interfere with the adventure of gradually furnishing his apartment himself, but I'll send along useful things that I have here (decluttering into a child's home is perfectly sound - a lot of things I have in duplicate because I meant them to have them when they needed them).

Linn, I hate that in and out back and forth to the circuit breaker box dance. I have to do it every so often. Every time I think I have everything labeled properly, it turns out one if them is really something else after all.

Dorothy, those woods you walked in sound lovely, but I agree, if you're too far back and require an all terrain vehicle part of the year to enter and exit, it stops being a relaxing place.

Rum - weaving your own tea towels - why am I not surprised? I have a friend who crochets small washcloths she gives to people. I use it for something that keeps it dry, in my dressing room, but the idea of a homemade wash cloth still appeals.

Michelle, I bet those wood orders are coming in fast and furious now that your first frost is imminent. What a great, if repetitive, workout!

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 03:40 PM

Lvg tomorrow after lunch with mom.

This trip is all about books/media and landscaping.

Van is loaded of all I can lift myself, including a lightweight bookshelf I pirated from the laundry room (which I can replace with a smaller, wire unit from the upstairs bathroom). Hardi will load some bluestone for a path from garage to front door. I positioned my napping recliner in the back so there IS room for a dog crate. I have a wad of Mortite to affix the GPS's base more securely onto its dashboard holder, and some camping foam to block out the bright dashboard lights for night driving.

Found a lovely lap dulcimer we had been given tucked behind a piece of furniture-- polished and packed in freshly-laundered quilted case for niece and nephew to enjoy. Autoharp is home from church and ready to load. Rest of music kit loaded.

Yet to do today/tmrw AM is laminate some signage to take, pack meds and electronics, refill water bottles, then give the downstairs a quick pickup/swiffering before leaving. We're ding out tonight with MIL, so no kitchen chores for me!

~S~

~S~

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 05:56 PM

Up and down the stairs to see what's what isn't the half of it...

I still can't get the front piece off in front of the cleanout tray under the rest of the toilet. In theory, that should be dry humus, but, well, it might not turn out that way.

I emptied the rest of the unit (yes, that's exactly as bad as you think it might be), sliced up a couple fingers while I was at it, and cleaned everything up so I won't be embarrassed when I call my handyman. (And he won't have to deal "it" -- I certainly wouldn't ask anyone else to deal with "it".) He should be able to tell me if I need to call the electrician back as well.

In between all that, I got the PMFF program wrapped up and sent off to the printer. Cleaned a bunch of other files off the old computer including my catalog of gravestone and related books and transferred them to the current computer. Oh, and I've been defrosting the freezer in the bedroom mini-fridge. Brought the commode back upstairs for the duration, threw out a bunch of stuff in the cellar while I was down there. Found a bunch more scrap metal to take to Harding. Oh, and finally had a chance (while I was sitting down catching my breath) to go through the mail from the past couple days. (Most of which got added to the trash which is collected tomorrow.)

It's almost 6 p.m. and I just ate lunch... (maybe I should call it supper). Think I need some more blueberry crumble and ice cream.

I think I'm going to ache tomorrow...

Linn

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Sep 14 - 10:23 PM

Thanks for the recipe ideas and links for even more ideas....very much appreciated!

Wood orders ARE rolling in....we are booked until mid-November!

I had a ME day today. I went to Ithaca and did some shopping (Jeremiah has been invited to his very first birthday party so I had fun shopping for a gift for his little friend) and because September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I had a manicure (HUGE TREAT) and my nails are now TEAL, done in gel polish which should last until October. I also have a purple ribbon painted on my left pinkie nail for Survivorship and a gold one painted in my right pinkie in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (also in September) and a very sweet young girl named Natalie. I attended my local Relay For Life bald (right after treatment had been completed) and on my first lap around the track this beautiful little 10 year old blonde cutie patootie came up and held my hand while we walked. She was celebrating her 8th year of survivorship and was eager to support me in my journey. We've become good pals. :)

I'm tuckered out. Sweet dreams Everybody!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 02:04 AM

Sounds like quite a day, Michelle!

Exciting evening here - my ex called to say that our son called to say his car was stolen in Seattle (he started a new job last week). It was parked on the street or in a lot, I'm not sure, and on Saturday it was gone. Then today the ex got a thing in the mail - the car has a TX license and the impound lot sent notice to the registered address saying 120 hours is all he has to claim his car or they sell it at auction. He had a permit to park where he was (we spoke tonight). He spoke to the impound folks (he has until tomorrow to meet the 120 hours). The police had no information about this (they're supposed to be told if cars are towed). Sounds like an overly ambitious tow company (like that doesn't happen, eh?) saw an out of state license and thought they had easy pickings.

He'll be able to park at the garage at work and leave it there, once he gets that set up. Meanwhile, it may stay at my sister's house in a quiet neighborhood. There are regular news stories out of Dallas about all of the dirty tricks tow truck operators pull, and the deals they make with local businesses. Why should tow truck drivers be different in another large city? If you google "tow truck scams" in any given city, you find some interesting reading.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 04:55 AM

I find that the things I make myself last for such a long time - they take time to make, but then I have them for decades, or I sell them and have money for things my pension would not cover.

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 04:45 PM

Dentist and peridontist today looked at this sore spot in my mouth and find nothing particularly wrong. Advice is to give it a couple of months and if it hasn't cleared up, go in for a deep cleaning to see if there is a tartar or bacterial component to this. At least I know it isn't something big I shouldn't ignore.

Puttering this afternoon and evening. And a nap.

SRS

Subject: RE: Autumnal clearing out and fitness 2014
From: Rumncoke
Date: 16 Sep 14 - 05:44 PM

Since my run in with an abscess earlier this year I have been using a mouthwash - cleaning teeth after dinner then mouthwash at bedtime. My dentist has told me that my gums are better than they were - whatever that means, but it can't be bad.